Shipping receptacle



April 8, 1969 Filed Aug. 16. 1967 C. L. MILLER, JR. ETAL SHIPPING RECEPTACLE Sheet ors M/VE/V 70/75.

CARL L. MILLER. JR.- ROBERT 6. MILLER. JR.

ATTORNEY April 8, 1969 C. l... MILLER, JR. ETAL SHIPPING RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 16. 1967 m m, n l.- mu VM W4 n A c April 8, 1969 c. L. MILLER, JR.. ETAL 3,437,256

SHIPPING RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 16. 1967 Sheet 2 of s v INVf/VTORS. 32 32 CARL 1.. MILLER. JR.

ROBERT G. MILLER. JR.

" gfdfiwmwd ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 22923 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shipping receptacle for electronic tubes having a base, a central outer receptacle connected to the base, a top carrying handle, a protective rim adjacent the handle, and an inner moulded plastic container surrounding and carrying the tube.

Background of the invention Field of the invention.-This invention relates to a shipping receptacle for electronic tubes which is of corrugated paperboard construction.

Description of the prior art.--Receptacles previously available for shipping of electronic t-ubes have suffered from many shortcomings that resulted in a high tube breakage rate during shipping and while in storage.

The construction of many eelctronic tubes, such as image orthicon tubes, is such that it is desirable that they be shipped in a vertical or upright position. The previously available shipping receptacles for such tubes were unstable, did not have suitable carrying. handles and were easily damaged by the pressure of adjacent receptacles which caused the box to dent or collapse and damage the tube. The present receptacle is very stable due to its base construction, has a safety rim adjacent the top which protects the tube from adjacent articles, supports it should the box be tipped over, and in addition is provided with a sturdy secure carrying handle and a shock insulating plastic container inside the receptacle carrying the tube. The relationship of carrying handle and base also, is such that the proper position of the receptacle is emphasized.

Summary of the invention The principal object of the present invention is to provide a shipping receptacle for electronic tubes that effectively protects the tube from damage while in transit or storage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shipping receptacle for electronic tubes that is highly stable and easy to carry.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shipping receptacle with a base for support and an opposite carrying handle and safety rim which prevents or discourages support other than on the base.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shipping receptacle for electronic tubes that prevents the tube from contacting adjacent receptacles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shipping receptacle for electronic tubes that is suitable for reuse.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shipping receptacle for electronic tubes that protects the tube from damage if the receptacle is tipped on its side.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

Brief escription of the drawing The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

3,437,256 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the shipping receptacle in assembled condition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded View, enlarged, showing the various component parts of the shipping receptacle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the handle blank of the shipping receptacle in flat condition prior to assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the base blank of the shipping receptacle in fiat condition prior to assembly.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Description of the preferre embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof the shipping receptacle of the present invention comprises a base portion 10, a central outer tubular portion 11, a safety rim assembly 12, a handle assembly 14, and an inner plastic cushioning container 15. The base portion 10, tubular portion 11, safety rim assembly 12 and handle assembly 14 are preferably made of corrugated paper board suitably blanked and creased, and with cut lines as hereinafter described.

The base portion 10 is shown in FIG. 5 as a blank prior to gluing and assembly. The base 10 has a central base panel .16 of square configuration with a pair of opposed trapezoidal side wall panels 17 connected thereto along crease lines 18 on the right and left side of panel 16. The panels 17 each has inwardly inclined side edges 17' which terminate at crease lines 20 joining the panels 17 to top outer wall panels 21. The top wall panels 21 are of substantially rectangular configuration and have top inner wall panels 22 joined thereto along double crease lines 23. The inner wall panels 22 are also of rectangular configuration but of slightly reduced width and depth compared to panels 21.

Another pair of opposed side wall panels 25 is provided joined to the central base panel 16 at the top and bottom thereof along crease lines 26. The panels 25 each has inwardly extending edges which are delineated by a pair of crease lines 27 joining tuck flaps 28 to the panels 25 at each side edge thereof.

The tuck flaps 28 are intended to extend under side wall panels 17 in assembled condition.

A pair of top outer wall panels 29 are joined to the panels 25 along their top edges at crease lines 30. The panels 29 are of rectangular configuration and have a pair of tuck flaps 31 joined thereto at each side edge along crease lines 32. The tuck flaps 31 may extend out as far as the tuck flaps 27 and are separated therefrom by a slit 33.

The handle assembly 14 is shown more clearly in FIG. 4 Where it is illustrated as a blank prior to gluing and set up.

The handle assembly 14 starting at the left of FIG. 4 includes an outer wall panel 35 of rectangular configuration with an inner flap 36 joined to its bottom edge along a double crease line 37. A top wall panel 38 similar in shape to panel 35 is connected to panel 36 along a crease line 39 at the top of panel 36. The panel 38 has an outer handle panel 40 joined thereto along its top at crease line 41. The panel 40 is of rectangular configuration with a cut-out 42 therein at the center adjacent crease line 41 and of sufficient size so as to enable the fingers and palm of a hand to be inserted therethrough. An inner handle panel 43 is joined to panel 40 along crease line 44 at the top of 3 panel 40. The panel 43 is provided with a cut-out 45 at the center of its top edge similar to cut-out 42 of panel 40. The wall panel 35 at its right side is joined to a wall panel along a crease line 51. The panel 50 is similar to panel 36 and has inner fiap 52 joined to it at its lower edge along a double crease line 53. The inner flap 52 similar to flap 37 is separated from flap 36 by a crease line 54 formed as a continuation of the crease line 51 and is adapted to fold under panel 50 when assembled.

A triangularly shaped panel 55 is provided joined to panel 50 along a crease line 56, formed as a continuation of the crease line 39, at the top edge of panel 50. A panel 57 is provided joined to the left side of panel 55 by a crease line 58 and also joined to the right side edge of panel 38 by a crease line 59 formed as a continuation of the crease line 51. A panel 60 of similar shape to panel 57 is provided joined to the right side of panel 55 by a crease line 61.

The panel 60 has a top wall panel 62 joined to its right edge by a vertical crease line 63. The panel 62 is similar to top wall panel 38 and has an outer handle panel 64 joined thereto by crease line 65. The handle panel 64 is similar to handlepanel 40 and has a cut-out 42 for manual engagement. An inner handle panel 67 similar to panel 43 is joined to panel 64 at the top thereof along a crease line 68, is adapted to fold in back of panel 64 and is provided with a cut-out 45 therein.

The panel 62 has an outer Wall panel 70 joined thereto by a crease line 71 at its lower edge of similar configuration to panel 62. The crease line 71 is formed as a continuation of the crease line 56. An inner flap 72 similar to flap 52 is joined to the lower edge of panel 70 by double crease lines 73 is separated from the flap 52 by crease line 74 formed as a continuation of crease line 76 and adapted to fold under panel 70 in assembled condition.

The wall panel 70 is joined to panel 50 by crease line 76 and has an outer wall panel connected thereto at its right edge by a crease line 77. The panel 75 is of similar configuration to panel 70 and has an inner flap 78 connected to its lower edge by a double crease line 79. The flap 78 is similar to flap 72, is separated from flap 72 by crease line 80, formed as a continuation of crease line 77 and is adapted to fold under panel 75 in assembled condition.

The outer wall panel 75 has a wall panel 81 joined to its top edge by crease line 82 which is formed as a continuation of the crease line 71. The wall panel 81 is of triangular configuration similar to panel 55 and is joined to a panel 83 at the left by diagonal crease line 84. The panel 83 is also joined to top wall panel 62 by vertical crease line 85 at the right hand edge of panel 62, the crease line 85 being formed as a continuation of the crease line 77.

An additional panel 86 is joined by crease line 87 to the right edge of panel 81, the panel 86 being of similar configuration to panel 83.

Referring again more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the central outer tubular portion 11, therein illustrated has front and rear wall panels 90 and 91, and right and left side wall panels 92 and 93. Each of the wall panels 90, 91, 92 and 93 is provided with a top flap 94 on the top thereof joined thereto by crease lines 95. The flaps 94 are adapted to be folded inwardly along crease lines 95 to horizontal positions in order to close and seal the top end of the tubular portion 11.

The front wall panel 90 is joined at its left edge by vertical crease line 96 to left wall panel 93, the panel 93 is joined to rear wall panel 91 along vertical crease line 97 and the rear wall panel 91 is joined to right wall panel 92 by vertical crease line 99.

The front wall panel 90 is provided with a vertical glue flap 100 joined thereto by a crease line 101 and adapted to be glued to the inside of panel 92 thereby forming a rigid square structure.

Each of the panels 90, 91, 92 and 93 at the respective bottoms thereof are provided with bottom flaps 102 joined thereto by crease lines 103 which extend approximately one half the width of the panels and are adapted to be folded inwardly to horizontal positions and glued to close the bottom end of the tube 11 as shown in FIG. 2.

The safety rim assembly 12 is composed of two circular discs 106 and 107 of a diameter equal to or greater than the diagonal dimension of the central base panel 16 of base 10. The disc 106 is the top disc and is provided with a central cut'out 110 which fits over the tube 11 when in assembled condition. The disc 107 is also provided with a central cut-out 111 which fits over the tube 11 in assembled condition and also has a pair of opposed glue flaps 112 joined thereto along crease lines 114, adapted to fold upwardly along the lines 114 extend through cutout 110 and are fastened to the tube 11 and inside of the handle assembly 14 in assembled condition.

The plastic container 15 as shown in FIG. 2 is composed of a moulded polyurethane foam plastic, however other suitable light weight material may be used if desired. The container 15 is of two piece construction, provided with a handle portion 120, and completely fills the tube 11 when the ends of the tube are closed. The container 15 is provided with suitable cavities 121 complemental to the external shape of the electronic tube (not shown) and into which the electronic tube is placed and which retain the tube and insulate it from shocks, during transit or while in storage.

The mode of assembly and use will now be pointed out.

The base portion 10 may be assembled as follows:

The side wall panels 17 are bent upwardly along crease lines 18, and the top outer wall panels 21 are bent up along crease lines 20 until they are vertical. The top inner wall panels 22 are bent downwardly along crease lines 23 until the panels 22 are inside the panels 21. The side wall panels 25 are bent upwardly along crease lines 26, and the tuck fiaps are bent inwardly along crease lines 27 and tucked in back of panels 17. The top outer wall panels 29 are bent upwardly along crease lines 30 until they are in a vertical position. The tuck flaps 31 are bent along crease lines 32 and inserted between the panels 21 and 22. The flaps 31, panels 21 and 22 may then be secured together such as by staples 125 as shown in FIG. 2. The outer tube 11 may be assembled by folding along crease lines 96, 97 and 99, folding the glue flap 100 along crease line 101 and gluing it to the inside of panel 92. The bottom panels 102 are folded inwardly along crease lines 103 and glued or otherwise fastened together.

The tube 11 may then be placed in the base 10 between the panels 21 and 29 and secured thereto by staples (not shown) or in any other desired manner.

The safety rim assembly 12 is assembled by coating the upper surface of rim 107 with glue, inserting the flaps 112 through the cut-out 110 of panel 106 and pressing the panels 106 and 107 together.

The flaps 112 are coated with glue and the assembly 12 is slid over the outer tube 11 to any desired position.

The handle assembly 14 is assembled by folding the panels 36, 52, 72 and 78 upwardly along crease lines 37, 53, 73 and 79. The panels 38, 35, 55, 50, 62, 70, 81 and 75 are folded along crease lines 59, 51, 63, 76, 85 and 77.

The panels 35 and 38 may be fastened to panels 75 and 81 by a strip of gummed tape 130. The inner handle panels 43 and 67 have glue applied to their inner sides and are folded downwardly along crease lines 44 and 68 with the glued side being pressed to panels 40 and 64. Glue is applied to the outsides of glue flaps 112 and panels 92 and 93 and the handle assembly 14 is slid down over tube 11 until it contacts the top disc 106, and panels 35, 36, 50, 52, 70, 72, 75 and 78 are pressed inwardly until the panels adhere to flaps 112, and to panels 92 and 93.

The electronic tube (not shown) is placed in the cavities 121 in plastic container 15 and the container 15 is slid down inside tube 11. The flaps 94 may be folded down on crease lines 95 and secured together by gluing or otherwise.

The panels 38 and 81 are pressed inwardly about the crease lines 39 and 82 until they are in an inclined position. The movement of panels 62 and 81 about lines 39 and 82 causes panels 57, 60, 82 and 86 to fold in along crease lines 58, 59, 61, 63, 84 and 85 until the panels 57, 60, 83 and 86 are substantially against the inside of panels 38 and 62. The inward movement of these panels causes panels 38 and 62 to move towards each other until the inner handle panels 43 and 67 are together. Tape preferably of the fiber glass type may be wrapped through the cut-outs 66, 69, 42 and 45 and over the handle panels 40, 43, 64- and 67 to hold them together and securely seal the shipping receptacle.

The shipping receptacles may then be used or placed in storage and the tube contained therein will be protected from damage.

It will be noted that the extension of the base panel 16 beyond the tubular portion 11 with inclined panels 17 and 25 provides a strong sidewise protective projection at the base which acts with the safety rim assembly 12 to protect the tubular portion 11. The construction of the handle assembly 14 also provides upper endwise protection of the tubular portion 11 and its contents.

We claim:

1. A shipping receptacle for electronic tubes which comprises:

a base having a bottom wall portion and inwardly inclined panels,

a central outer tubular portion carried by and extending downwardly within said base with vertical wall panels for the reception of an electronic tube,

said inclined panels extending 'to' and being secured to said vertical wall panels,

a handle assembly fastened to said tubular portion at the top thereof, and

a safety rim assembly on said outer tubular portion intermediate its ends and extending outwardly therefrom to at least the same extent as said base for protecting the tubular portion,

said rim assembly comprising a flat horizontal rim and vertical flaps extending therefrom and secured to said vertical Wall panels.

2. A shipping container as defined in claim 1 in which:

said outer tubular portion has a plastic container therein with cavity portions for receiving an electronic tube.

3. A shipping receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which:

said inwardly inclined panels have vertical wall panels extending therefrom in enclosing relation to said tubular portion.

4. A shipping receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which:

said horizontal rim has top and bottom rim portions with a central cut-out complemental to said tubular portion, and

said vertical flaps are a pair of opposed glue flaps on one of said rim portions.

5. A shipping receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which:

said tubular portion comprises opposite pairs of vertical parallel wall panels.

6. A shipping receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which:

said tubular portion is composed of opposed pairs of wall panels,

at least two of said wall panels having a top and a bottom flap.

7. A shipping receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which:

said plastic container is of moulded foam and provided with cavity portions for receiving an electronic tube.

8. A shipping receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which:

said handle assembly includes inclined wall portions extending beyond said tubular portion, and

handle panels beyond said inclined wall portions having handle openings therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,257,385 2/1918 Paroly 220-72 X 1,314,269 8/1919 Kempter 220-72 X 2,242,741 5/1941 Betts et al. 22014 X 2,675,264 4/1954 Vander Lugt.

2,704,222 3/ 1955 Tomarin.

3,138,316 6/1964 Meyer 22916 3,170,590 2/1965 Ullman et a1. 220-72 3,235,065 2/1966 Deeren 20 6-46 3,273,779 9/ 1966 Mykleby 229-14 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 20646; 229-l4, 39, 52 

